Natural Materials in Art
In this project, we will be experimenting with different pigments and tools found in nature, such as sticks, rocks, grasses, spices, and berries, to make an abstract painting. This will be relevant to the students because they are exposed to the natural world all the time, and can start to see the beauty in the natural world after learning how to use it in art.
Essential Understanding
Artists and designers use natural materials to make art.
Learning Targets
I can experiment with natural materials to create drawings and paintings that incorporate color and texture.
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I can explain how artists and designers use natural materials as a way of incorporating color and texture into their art.
Key Concepts
1.After introducing the four stations through brief demonstrations, (spices, berries, rocks/charcoal, plant material/dirt), using natural materials students will be able to successfully create experimental drawings and paintings that incorporate color and texture.
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2.After looking at contemporary artists, students will be able to explain how artists and designers use natural materials as a way of incorporating color and texture into their art.
Skills
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Imagination
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Ideation
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Exploration
Documentation for this lesson can be found here:
The lesson plan can be found here:
Blog reflection entries can be found here
What worked well for this art experience? Why?
I have noticed when students have a very specific prompt they erase a lot and worry about what their final product looks like. Providing a materials exploration lesson such allows the students to stretch and explore without worrying about making any mistakes. We grouped different materials together and the students enjoyed going from station to station and experimenting. This art experience was messy, but we did not have any behavior problems even though there was a substitute teacher there as all of the students were engaged in the exploration process. None of the materials were traditional art materials, but rather the materials we brought, such as spices, berries, and twigs. Introducing this lesson with a hook that pretended the students were on a time-traveling mission got them engaged from the start and emphasized the importance of making the lesson exciting from the start.
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What didn’t work well for this art experience? Why?
The experience itself worked well in that we achieved our objective of having students stretch and explore. The problem was how messy the natural materials were. The charcoal got all over the floor and the desks got dusty from the spices.
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What would you do differently? Why?
I would only do a lesson such as this outside and I would give students a chance to gather their own materials. Explorations such as this lesson are a good first step and a way to ideate, but I don’t know how useful the explorations are if they don’t lead to anything. If I were to teach this lesson again, I would make a handout with squares that students could record their material observations in and note if this material is something they would like to use again. In the next class period I would introduce some sort of theme and have the students use one of the non-traditional art materials to make the art. This could work for both 2d and 3d projects.